October 3, 2008

Michael Rethwisch, Extension Educator in Butler County: Rains (greater than 1/2 inch with some reports of hail) in the northern part of the county on Sunday evening-/Monday morning have delayed field operations there, but elsewhere rains were less than 0.20 inches. As of Monday morning (Sept. 29) bean harvest was underway, with 8% of fields havested. Late planted soybean fields are stillsomewhat leafy and may not be ready for harvest for two to three weeks.  A fewcorn fields are to be picked, but harvest hasn't started in most areas. Sorghum harvest is at the same point.   Alfalfa has been growing very well with the past few weeks of dryness, although a few fields did get caught with hay in
windrows prior to baling.  

David Stenberg, Extension Educator in Dawson County: In Dawson County high moisture corn harvest began this week with reports of corn about 30-32% moisture.  Soybean harvest also started this week with miostures in the mid teens.  The crop is standing well at this point in the season.  Early yield reports are somewhat below last year.  Corn silage harvest ended last week.  With the warm weather the past two to three weeks, we are about 50-75 growing degree day units behind normal, which is much better than the 250 GDDs that we were behind three weeks ago.